As New Century Careers safely returned to the pandemic’s “new normal,” a year of uncertainty blossomed into one of extraordinary progress.
NCC continued to stay focused on our overall mission of training, and placing pre-apprentice machinists into careers with area manufacturers, with 20 placements in 2021.
We maintained our strong tuition-free MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) core program, while also offering programming with our partner, Catalyst Connection -- the one-year Operation NEXT initiative created for small and mid-sized manufacturers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June, New Century Careers launched its two-year registered Robotics Technician Apprenticeship Program to focus on automation and robotics for the job role of robotics technician to help meet demands for highly skilled technicians to operate and maintain automation and robotics systems critical to this sector’s long-term success.
NCC added new technologies to supplement all training, including the Haas ST-10Y CNC lathe with FANUC robot and the TRAK EVO 3D/Additive printer. We also took delivery of tool cribs from Miller Fabrication Solutions and four used Parker Majestic Surface Grinders from Oberg Industries, among other in-kind contributions.
More than 70 groups – schools, companies, CBOs, and others – visited NCC throughout the year. A virtual tour of NCC's Anselmo Training Innovation Center is in production with release expected in early 2022, an important component of our ongoing online recruitment activities.
Billboards along Rt. 30 and a radio advertising campaign supported NCC's trainee recruitment for the Eastern Westmoreland CTC site.
Two new team members joined us this year -- Larry Hayhurst, training/facilities supervisor, and Tasia Armstead, student services and development associate. NCC is actively seeking part-time M2K instructors for daylight and evening training classes.
These are just a few highlights of the many new collaborations, student achievements and other progress of the remarkable year 2021 that will be detailed in our second annual Impact Report, to be issued in February.
All of this could not be accomplished without the support of many. I'd like to thank:
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our staff and instructors for always being focused on providing excellent education and job placement opportunities for all of our trainees.
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our funders and partner organizations for the support all of you provide to see that this valuable mission work continues, is sustained, and always changing to meet the needs of the advanced manufacturing industry
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our Board of Directors, subcommittee members, volunteers and donors who support NCC in numerous ways -- too many to count!
Best wishes for a prosperous New Year as we work together to bolster the regional economy with skilled workers!
Neil
